MANILA, Philippines—The Valley Golf and Country Club in Antipolo City has placed Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, his son Nasser Jr. and businessman Delfin de la Paz under temporary preventive suspension in the aftermath of Friday’s melee at the club.

An emergency meeting of the membership, legal and security committees has been set for this week to discuss the case, according to a club official, who requested anonymity for lack of authority to speak on the matter.

Nasser Jr. is not actually a member of club but is considered a dependent of Pangandaman Sr., a member.

The sanctions on member-to-member fights within the club premises will depend on the gravity of the incident, the official said.

“We are still investigating the case,” the official added. “We don’t want to make any statements because it might preempt the verdict. Right now, both parties are on preventive suspension.”

No bodyguards on the course

The official also denied reports that Secretary Pangandaman did not do anything to stop the quarrel.

“Umawat si Secretary (He stepped in and intervened),” he said, citing accounts from witnesses.

The club official also disputed reports that the bodyguards of the Pangandamans were on the course, which would be a violation of club rules.

But he said that there were indeed bodyguards when the fight reached the clubhouse.

“We can’t even say that it was just the Pangandamans’ bodyguards because there were so many people from both parties there,” he said.

‘A game we love’

Iggy Clavecilla, president of the Ateneo golf foundation, where Bino de la Paz is a member, said the incident was “very regrettable.”

“This is a game that we all love,” Clavecilla said. “No matter what the altercation, it shouldn’t have ended violently. Bino, himself, is a nice kid.”

The young De la Paz is a freshman at the Ateneo de Manila high school.

Gerry Jandog, president of the Junior Golf Association of the Philippines, said they were supporting Bino.

“We are shocked,” Jandog said. “Bino is a kid with a good moral character. We are condemning the incident because golf should be a gentleman’s game.”

Ogie Manalo, president of the Federation of Golf Clubs, where Valley is a member, did not comment, pointing out that the incident was an internal case for Valley.